Home Ace Issues Disco Kroger (on Euclid) opens in Lexington today

Disco Kroger (on Euclid) opens in Lexington today

p5 _ Disco Kroger _ Austin
Austin only returned for the day. He has been promoted to Versailles Kroger. #BringAustinBack

Disco KrogerWith much fanfare (a marching band played and Coach Cal cut the ribbon), Lexington’s Disco Kroger (on Euclid) opened at 8 am this morning.

A few hundred hungry locals began gathering as early as 7 am on the chilly early January morning to celebrate the end of the food desert created when the store closed in March of 2014 for a teardown and rebuild.

Traffic was, as expected, brisk. The surface lot was filled to capacity, leaving early-morning shoppers to test the rooftop parking.

Guy Mendes _ Euclid Kroger _ Ribbon Cutting _ Disco Kroger _14
photographer Guy Mendes

As promised, the new location includes a beer cave, a cupcake bar, a large section of organics, and even popular food trucks’ food carts (Athenian Grill, and La Petite Creperie serving up crepes). The new olive bar is comparable to the ones at Fresh Market and Whole Foods. Carry-out pizza is available (and includes a Hot Brown offering). New York-based Murray’s cheese shop comes with a master cheese purveyor and there will be grilled cheese options on Fridays at lunchtime.

The Euclid Kroger is expected to be staffed by about 300 employees, with some longtime neighborhood favorites returning from their suburban posts.

As Legend has it (meaning it might or might not be true), Kroger on Euclid was the first Kroger in Lexington to be open 24 hours, circa 1970s, making it an after-hours mecca for Cruising when bars like the Bungalow closed for the night. Hence: Disco Kroger. That’s the story, as told to Ace, circa 1989.

Councilman Bill Farmer photobombing John Calipari.
Councilman Bill Farmer (right) photobombs John Calipari.

fortkrogerNext door neighbors began referring to it as Fort Kroger in 2013 council meetings, objecting to the setback line that brought the store up to the street on Marquis and on Euclid Ave.

Kroger Wine and Spirits also opened today at the corner of Euclid and Ashland Avenues (joining an already competitive neighborhood liquor landscape that includes Liquor Barn Express and Corner Wines).

Kroger on Euclid is open 24/7. The pharmacy (which now includes a drive-through) is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 9 pm; Saturday 9 am to 6 pm; and Sunday 10 am to 6 pm.

Click here to subscribe to the Ace digital e-dition, emailed to your inbox every Thursday morning.

To submit a Lexington, Kentucky food, wine, or spirits news item for consideration in Ace’s Best Bites, email acelist at aceweekly.com. To submit a Lexington Food, Wine, or Spirits Event to be considered for the Ace calendar,  please go to the Ace online calendar, and click “Submit” (upper right on the Menu bar). For Lexington restaurant advertising, call  Ace Advertising at 859.225.4889 x229.

Disco-Kroger-2

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Food Desert to End Soon 12.30. 2014

We Come not to Bury the Disco Kroger, but to Praise it 3.7.2014

Fire at the Disco Kroger 5.31.2013

Disco Kroger Etymology Updates 12.15.2010

Say it Ain’t So Disco Kroger 7.10.2010

Change A’ Comin’ to the Disco Kroger 11.11.2009

For more Lexington, Kentucky arts, food, culture, and entertainment news — and 38 years of definitive coverage on the Disco Kroger—click here to subscribe to the Ace digital e-dition, emailed to your inbox every Thursday morning.

FoodNews_AceWeekly_BestBites_Lexington_TLTo submit a Lexington, Kentucky food, wine, or spirits news item for consideration in Ace’s Best Bites, email acelist@aceweekly.com. To submit a Lexington Food, Wine, or Spirits Event to be considered for the Ace calendar, please go to the Ace online calendar, and click “Submit” (upper right on the Menu bar). For advertising, call Ace Advertising at 859.225.4889 x229.

Photos by Kakie Urch.